Stamp and envelop moistener and sealer



(No Model.)

J. A. PEARSON & H. P. HUST-ON. STAMP AND ENVELOP MOISTENER AND SEALER.No. 601,526.

Patented Mar. 29, 1898.

UNITED STATES -ATENT Prion.

JOHN A. PEARSON AND HERMAN F. HUSTON, OF PHILADELPHIA,

' PENNSYLVANIA.

STAMP'AND ENVELOP MOISTENER AND'SEALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,526, dated March29, 1898.

Application filed March 29, 1897- To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. PEARSON and HERMAN F. HUsToN, citizens ofthe United States, residing at No. 4119 Ogden street, inPhiladelphia,'in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and usefulmachine to be known as The Novelty Stampand Envelop Moistener and Sealer, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a device for moistening and securing envelopsand for holding and moistening postage-stamps and the object of theinvention is to provide a simple, improved, and compact device by theuse of which letters may be rapidly moistened and sealed and stamped.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described andclaimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a perspective view of our improved device, an envelop being shownin position thereon for, moistening in dotted lines and in position forreceiving the stamp after being sealed in solid lines. Fig. 2 is asectional view. on the broken line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is across-sectional view on line b b of the same figure.

The box-shaped casing A is preferably, though not necessarily, ofrectangular form and on its top between its ends is slightly depressed,as indicated at B, the rear end of this depression terminating in atransverse recess 0. Within the rear end of easing A is reservoir D,provided with filling-openings E, closed by cap E, and the front wall ofthe reservoir, together with the rear wall of recess C, is slotted topass wick F, the latter being held projected over said recess by rod G.

When sealing an envelop,the same is placed flatly upon the rear portionof easing A, with the sealing-flap extending down into recess C overwick F, which thoroughly moistens presses and seals the same.

$erial No. 629,783. (No model.)

brings the envelop to the position indicated in solid lines in Fig. 1,where the stamp may be conveniently affixed, as will be presentlydescribed. Depression 13 being beneath the plane of the rear end of thecasing permits an unobstructed forward movement of the envelop after thefiap has been moistened, and. the rear end of depression B serves toturn the flap under the envelop-body, so that when the envelop is movedforward onto depressed part B the flap is in proper underturned positionfor sealing. The pressure upon the envelop incident to moving it forwardis sufficient to effect the sealing thereof,

so that the work may be done rapidly and effectually.

Within the front end of easing A is reservoir H, provided withfilling-openings I, closed by cap I, and extending into the reservoir isnarrow wick J, projecting through the upper surface of the casing at oneend of ridge A, against which the top edge of the envelop is moved insealing. of the casing is secured receptacle K, closed at its upper endby removable dovetailed slide L, the latter being recessed backward fromits edge adjacent wick J, as indicated at L. Movable vertically inreceptacle. K is follower M, having finger-hold or knob N proj ectedtherefromthrough slot 0, anddepending from the follower is tube P, whichtelescopes tube Q, secured to the bottom of the receptacle K, andconfined in these tubes is expansible spring R,which holds the followernormally in raised position. Confined between follower M and slide L area number of postage-stamps S, and in applying a stamp to a letter theupper stamp is adaptedto be engaged by the finger through recess L andbe drawn outward over Wick J, which moistens the same, and onto theupper right-hand corner of the envelop, where it is affixed.

By means of the device herein shown and described letters may be veryrapidly sealed and stamped, the movement which effects the sealing ofthe same bringing the letter to position for receiving the stamp, and asthe latter is automatically fed by the spring-actuated follower the samemay be most conveniently and accurately affixed.

The device is of simple construction and is In one corner of the frontat all times ready for use, the only attention required being theoccasional filling of the reservoirs.

Having thus fully described our invention, What we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved device of the character described, including a casingformed between its ends with a transverse recess, a moistening deviceexposed in the vertical wall of the recess, the top surface of thecasing rearward from the recess serving to support the envelop while itsflap depends in the recess in contact with the moistening device, andthe casing top forward from the recess serving to receive the envelop asit is moved forward over the recess, thereby automatically turningbackward the dampened flap and sealing the same, substantially as shownand described.

2. An improved device of the character described, including a casingtransversely recessed between its ends, the plane of the easing-topforward from the recess being lower than that to the rear of the recess,a moistening device exposed in the rear wall of the recess,whereby therear top portion of the easing serves to support the envelop while itsflap depends in the recess in contact with the moistening device, thelower forward top surface of the casing unobstructedly receiving theenvelop as it is moved forward over the recess and serving toautomatically turn backward and seal the moistened flap, substantiallyas shown and described.

3. An improved device of the character described, including a casingtransversely recessed between its ends, a reservoir, and a wick leadingtherefrom and extending through one wall of the recess and overhangingthe latter with a vertical open space between the Wick and the oppositewall of the recess to receive a depending envelop-flap, the casing-toprearward from the recess supporting the envelop prior to sealing, andthe top portion forward therefrom receiving the envelop while beingsealed, substantially as shown and described. A

4. An improved device of the character described, including a casinghaving vertical transverse recess 0 between its ends, a wick exposed inthe recess, the top surface of the casing forward from the recess beingdepressed at B for the purpose described, the forward end of saiddepression terminating in ridge A which constitutes a stop for theforward or top edge of the envelop, a stampreceptacle, and a wickexposed through an opening adjacent the receptacle substantially asshown and described.

JOHN A. PEARSON. HERMAN F. HUSTON.

Witnesses:

Cams. 0. Cnornnna. JOHN C. IIUSTON.

